Qingdai Indigo Naturalis
The source is from the branch and leaf of Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek, or Potygonum tinctorium Ait. or Isatis tinctoria L., family Acanthaceae, Polygonaceae or Cruciferae. The fallen leaves are collected in autumn, and soaked in water until they are rotten, dredged up from water and then just right amount of lime white is put in the rotten leaves, which is fully stirred until maceration extract becomes dark red from dark green, at last the foam on the solution is dredged up, which is dried in the sun for being used.
Medicinal Properties Salty in flavor, cold in nature and attributive to the liver meridian.
Actions Clear away heat and liver-fire, and relieve toxin, cool blood and disperse maculae, and stop convulsion.
Application
1. It is indicated for overabundance of pathogenic heat manifested as fever, excessive thirst, or maculae and papules, and especially suitable for syndrome of heat involving yingfen and xuefen manifested as maculae, it is usually combined with Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum ), Shengdihuang (Radix Rehmanniae), and Zhizi ( Fructus Gardeniae ) , etc..
2. For bleeding due to blood-heat manifested as haematemesis and epistaxis, it's used together with Shengdihuang ( Radix Rehmanniae), Mudanpi ( Cortex Moutan Radicis ), Baimaogen ( Rhizoma Imperatae ) and others that can clear away heat and cool blood. Since it can clear away liver-fire and phlegm-heat, for liver-fire attacking the lung resulting in hemoptysis or bloody sputum, the single Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis ) is effective but also combined with the powder of Haigeke ( Concha Meretricis seu Cyclinae), that is, Dai Ge San (Powder).
3. It is generally used for mumps, laryngalgia and pyocutaneous diseases. For mumps and laryngalgia, it can be mixed with small amount of Bingpian (Borneolum Syntheticum) for external application, or used together with Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae ) , Banlangen (Radix Isatidis) and Xuanshen (Radix Scrophulariae) for oral use. For pyocutaneous disease of fire type, it can be combined with Pugongying ( Herba Taraxaci ), Zihuadiding ( Herba Violae ), Jinyinhua ( Flos Lonicerae), and others that can relieve toxic materials and treat skin diseases.
4. It is used for convulsive epilepsy due to summer-heat and convulsion or infantile convulsion; for the former, usually combined with Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) and Huashi ( Talcum), such as Biyu San (Powder) ; for the latter, usually combined with Gouteng (Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis ) and Niuhuang ( Calculus Bovis ), etc..
Usage and Dosage 1.5 -3 g is ground into powder that is added to pill or the powder form for oral use. It is generally not used in decoction since it is difficult to dissolve in water. Just right amount is used externally.
Notes It is used with caution for deficiency and cold of the spleen and stomach.
